This is less of a rule and more of an insult on the part of NFL teams. Amidst the handbook that outlines everything cheerleaders can and can’t do, the cheerleaders are also told that they’re not really important to the game.
One handbook explained that the fans will come to see football whether the cheerleaders are there or not. Therefore, cheerleaders are told that their jobs aren’t important and that they can be replaced at any time. In order to be part of the team, they have to acknowledge that they’re completely expendable.
They Have to Follow a Certain Diet
Since cheerleaders have to achieve an “ideal weight,” some guidebooks offer regulations that will help to keep their bodies in check. One NFL handbook proclaimed that cheerleaders were only allowed to eat two meals per day, so they better “choose wisely.” The diet plan also limited the women to one slice of meat per day.
To keep in line with the expectations of the team, many cheerleaders survived on caffeine and weight loss supplements, rather than risking a weight gain by actually eating.
They Don’t Have a Say In Their Photoshoot
Cheerleaders who are in good standing with the team get the special privilege of being part of the team calendar. However, this privilege isn’t always as advantageous as it seems.
In 2013, the Washington Redskins took their cheerleaders to Costa Rica to shoot the calendar. After taking all their passports to ensure they couldn’t leave, the photographers forced the girls to pose nude. Not only were those moments captured on camera, but they were also observed by various sponsors of the Redskins who were allowed to watch the shoot.
They Must Wash Off Their Makeup Before Bed
Most dermatologists recommend that women wash off their makeup before bed. It’s supposed to be better for your skin and it helps to ensure a clean face free of breakouts. Rather than offering up this advice as a recommendation, however, NFL teams make it a part of cheerleaders’ jobs.
Some NFL handbooks state that cheerleaders must wash off their makeup before bed. By putting it in the handbook it becomes part of the job, creating an even more invasive environment for the women.
They Must Be Tan
On top of all the other ridiculous requirements for cheerleaders’ bodies, some NFL handbooks also mandate that the women must be tan. If they’re not tan naturally, they have to go to a tanning salon on their own time and try to match the skin tone of their teammates.
Of course, the tans must then be maintained. It’s just another expense that cheerleaders are never reimbursed for, and they could face consequences if they choose not to follow through with their fake tanning.